Cuff button



H. D. KANTOR.

cuFpuUoN. APPLICATION FILED MY13., i921.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

` /NVENTH [ifm/r r. [f1/vrom ATTORNEYS PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY D. KANTOR, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

curr BUTTON.

inname. y

Application flied Mey 13, 19,21. serial No. 469,298.

To @ZZ whom. t may concern Y Be it known that L'HARRY D. KANTOR, a citizen of they United States, and a resident of Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and Improved Cuff Button, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to cuff buttons and refers more particularly to cuff buttons which include separable members, the principal object in view residing in the provision of a means for effecting more readily the disengagement and separation of said member.

In cuff buttons ofthis type each member is provided with a means of connection which is adapted for frictional engagement with the opposite member, and in order to separate the same it is the present practice to grasp and pull the cuff. By this practice severe strain on the buttonhole results in its destruction and ultimately the wear on the interengageable means of connection tends to lessen the effectiveness of the same, thereby destroying an effective connection.

The present invention contemplates a simple and inexpensive means for readily effecting disengagement of the means of connection and separation of the button members without directly forcing or straining the same.

A further object in view resides in the provision of a means of connection which is operable by pressure of the members toward each other, for effecting the release of the connection and separation of the button members.

With these and other ends in view the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification, pointed out in the appended claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the same are merely illustrative of several ways in which the invention may be reduced to practice.

In the drawing'- Y Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, illustrating the button members in associated relation and connected to each other.

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the arrangement of parts for effecting the release of said members.

Fig. 3 is a similar viewy of a modified form of the invention illustrating the button members connected together.

Specification of Letters Patent.

yarrangement of raten-ted Mar. 7, 1922.

Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the parts for effecting the releaseof the button members.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 2, l0 `and 1]. designate respectively the separable button members, the former including the inner and outer heads l2 and 13.connected by a reduced neck 14 which is adapted to be passed through the buttonhole or holes of one side of the cuff. A substantially spherical element 15 projects inwardly from the inner head and is designed to coact with a. frictional embracing element provided in the inner head 16 of the button member 11. The outer head 17 of the button member 11 is provided with an inwardly projecting sleeve 18 which is openV at its inner end to telescopically receive the neck 19 of the inner head 16 thereof. A rigid shank 20 projects concentrically through the sleeve 18 and the inner free extremity thereof is split longitudinally tovv provide gripping fingers 21, the inherent resiliency of which tend to normally effect their relative separation. The neck 19 is of conical formation and flared outwardly as at 22 to receive and engage the gripping fingers 21. A coiled contractile spring 23 surrounds the shank 20 and is interposed between the outer end of the neck 19 and the juncture of the sleeve with the outer head 17 of the button member 11, the purpose of said spring being to normally effect relative separation of the heads 16 and 17 thereof. The separating movement of the heads 16 and 17 effects the normal movement of the gripper fingers 21 toward each other to frictionally engage and co-act with the element 15 of the button member 10 whereby to retain the button members 10 and 11 connected. To effect the release of said gripper fingers 21 from the element 15, pressure is exerted on the outer heads 17 and 13 of the button members 11 and 10, thereby bringing the inner heads 12 and 16 into forcible engagement with each other. This engagement -moves the inner head 16 of the button member 11 toward the outer head 17 thereof to compress the spring 23. The inward movement of the head 16 brings the enlarged portion 22 of the neck 19 into a position to permit relative separation of the gripper fingers as illustrated in Fig. 2. In exerting a pressure on the outer heads for this purpose the thumb and second finger is employed and the index finger is then used to hold the head 16 of the button member 11 :2l A l 1,409,010

in compressed position, Simultaneously eX- erting a force to separate the button from the button 11. By. this arrangement the necessity of exerting a direct pull on the', fastening means is obviated and the wear on said means is negligible.

In Figs. 3 andl4 a somewhat modifiedl construction of the button member 11. is illustrated. In this form the outer head 1"(a is provided with an inwardly projecting shank 18Va which terminates in a frustoconical head 16a. The head 16n is provided with'inner and outer concentric walls 19 and 2O?L which are spaced apart to receive the frusto-conical Vflange 21a of a socket memberQQa. In this instance the button member 10 which is of identical construc. tion to that illustrated in the first embodiment is provided with thespherical element 15 which is designed to be received by the socket member 22% To effect the release of the element 15 from the socket, pressure is exerted on the outer heads 13 and V17a of the button members thereby forcing the socket member 22a inwardly. As the frustoconical flange 21a moves inwardly the socket memberQQa will be opened' as illustrated in Fig. 4, to permit ot the release of the same from the element 15. In this instance the thumb and second finger are employed for exerting the pressure on the heads 13 and 17, and the index finger is used to separate the button members. Y

lVhile there has been illustrated and described several embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the right is reserved to others than those actually shown herein, to the full extent indicatedY by the vgeneral meaning of the terms in which the claim is expressed and by variations in the phraseology of the same.

Having thus `described my invention, what I claim is:

A separable cuff button comprising male and female members, Vone of which is provided with a ball and the other with a socket for connecting Vthe same together, means surrounding the socket and normally coacting therewith to eflect its engagement with the ball to retain the members against relative separation, said means being engagea-ble by the male member upon inward pressure` thereagainst to effect its release.

`D. KANTOR. 

